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“I do. But I still like Miss Jo best.” Remy had looked at me across the table. “Miss Jo is gonna be part of our family now, though. Right, Daddy?”

Lane’s eyes had met mine, warm and full of promise. “If she wants to be.”

“I want to be,” I’d whispered.

And I meant it.

It was a Wednesday evening, six weeks after our first dinner, when Lane called with news I wasn’t expecting.

“Blake attacked someone. At the jail.”

My stomach dropped. “What?”

“Another inmate. He’s being charged with another assault. Nebraska confirmed they’re coming to get him, but now Colorado wants to press charges too. He’s looking at serious time, Jo.”

“Is the other person okay?”

“Yeah. Blake got the worst of it, actually. Picked a fight with the wrong guy.” There was a grim satisfaction in Lane’s voice. “He’s going away for a long time. You’re safe.”

I let out a shaky breath. “I don’t have to be afraid anymore.”

“You never have to be afraid. But especially not of him.”

Friday night, Remy asked if I wanted to have a sleepover.

“A sleepover?” I looked at Lane, who was trying not to smile.

“Yeah! You could stay in the guest room and we could make pancakes in the morning and watch movies!” Remy’s eyes were bright with excitement.

“That sounds fun, sweetheart. But I’d need to check with your dad first.”

“Daddy already said yes. Right, Daddy?”

Lane held up his hands in surrender. “I said I’d ask Jo if she wanted to. I didn’t promise anything.”

“So? Do you want to?” Remy looked at me hopefully.

I looked at Lane. Really looked at him. Saw the warmth in his eyes, the way his gaze tracked over me, like he was memorizing every detail. Something felt different tonight, but I wasn’t sure what exactly.

“I’d love to,” I said softly.

Remy cheered and ran off to “prepare the guest room.”

I had a feeling I wouldn’t be in the spare room. I looked at Lane, and his eyes had gone dark, his jaw clenched. He knew I wouldn’t be in the guest room either.

Lane moved closer, his hand finding my waist. He stared at me intently, like he read the resolve in my expression. “You sure? I know it’s a big step.”

“I’ve been ready for weeks. I’m sure. I want to be here. With you. With Remy. With your family.”

He pulled me into his arms, holding me close. “I love you, Josephine Bennelli.”

It was the first time he’d said it out loud, and it wasn’t in the heat of a moment or over the phone. Just... said it. Clear and certain. My heart raced with excitement and a weird satisfaction.

“I love you too, Lane Daniels.”

He kissed me then, deep and slow, and I felt the last piece of my heart that had been holding back finally let go.

This was real. This was happening. And I was all in.